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Suns Lakers Series Predictions

We get a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff matchup when the Suns and Lakers face off again in 2007, but my gut tells me it won’t be nearly as dramatic. The Lakers had Phoenix in a 3-1 hole last April before the Suns came back to win in seven games. That Lakers team was playing with a lot more confidence and swagger as many didn’t feel they would even make the playoffs. Guys like Smush Parker and Kwame Brown have back slid into non-factors. The Lakers have gone just 12-16 since the All-Star break with Kobe having to rattle off 50-point games to ensure that the Lakers even made the postseason.

Phoenix is also in a different situation. Last season, the Suns had a hole the size of the Grand Canyon inside. Now with Amare Stoudemier back healthy and explosive as ever, and with Kurt Thomas providing another good defensive presence inside, the Suns are in far better shape than they were a season ago. You can also bet that Phoenix will be playing with more urgency knowing that going seven games in each of its first two series’ last season likely cost the Suns as much as anything Dallas did.

Mike D’Antoni employed the much criticized tactic of not resting his starters down the stretch. I think this actually pays off in the early rounds as the Suns will pick up right where they left off. Teams who rested their starters more down the stretch might see some chemistry issues in the first couple games.

The Suns are known as a team that doesn’t play much defense, but as the season went on the Suns’ defense improved. The Lakers on the other hand went the other way. In the second half of the season, they didn’t guard anyone. The Suns won the regular season series three-games-to-one and I expect a similar result in this playoff series with the Suns likely winning in just five games.

Phil Jackson will try to make his team believe that they can compete. His strategy against the Suns has been to take the ball to the rim to wear down and to slow down the Suns eliminating chances for run outs on long rebounds after missed long-range shots. Other than Kobe, I don’t think anyone else on the Lakers has the confidence to give the Suns a scare. And with Raja Bell matching up against Mr. Bryant, we can expect plenty of drama and most definitely another flying elbow from Kobe. Bell loves the challenge of guarding Bryant and will ensure that Kobe alone can’t beat the Suns. This matchup makes this series a must-see and you can win on the action with a package of our premium NBA picks, giving you detailed of analysis of who is going to cover the spread!

The Zen Master won’t have enough magic to lift his Lakers past the runnin’, gunnin’ Suns.

Updated April 19th, 2007